 | Rural attractions of London: Epping Forest, though some way from the Square Mile, is in the care of the City of London. Epping, once a royal hunting ground stretching into Essex, started to be enclosed by local farmers in the last century. This loss of land and the growing number of trees being lopped for firewood producing today's pollarded beeches-gave rise to concern, and an Act of Parliament in 1878 granted the forest to the City of London. The 6,000 acres, declared an open space for 'the enjoyment of my people forever' by Queen Victoria, have many species of trees: hornbeams are especially plentiful. A lake, ponds, bridle paths and great clumps of trees make it, and Hampstead Heath, welcome green spaces in the sprawling capital. The Heath was preserved in perpetuity for the public at about the same time as Epping, when building threatened to encroach on its 800 acres. |
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